Gas lighter



Aug. 24, 1937. Q F LARSEN 2,091,208

GAS LIGHTER Filed Aug. 28, 1955 v ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to gas lighters, the function of which is to generate a spark to ignite a gas burner jet or other combustion equipment.

My invention is intended for use by mechanics and Welders, such as for lighting welding torches, etc., and consequently has for one of its objects the provision of a device of this character of rugged substantial construction capable of withstanding the rough usage to which such devices are subjected.

A further object of my invention is to provide a gas lighter of simple and economic fabrication and of a compact arrangement so that same may be conveniently slipped into or removed from a pocket.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective View of my entire device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, the numeral 4 indicates a U-shaped fiat spring member functioning as the handle and operating means of my device and comprising substantially parallel legs 5 and Ei. The free end of the leg 5 is bent inwardly at right angles to form a tongue 'l for the support of the flint holder 8, the tongue 'l having an aperture into which the holder 8 is installed.

The holder 8 comprises a 'tube 9, the bore of which is adapted to receive a flint or ferro-cerium rod Ill and having a collar Il and a threaded portion i2 to receive a nut i3 by which the flint holder 8 is secured to the tongue 1. The bore of the tube 9 is threaded for a portion of its length adjacent its upper end to receive an adjustment screw H, which screw engages a helical spring i5 pressing against the flint l0.

The leg 6 of the member l extends beyond the leg 5 and has its free end bent to form a box or 55 frame U5. The side of the box l@ adjacent the tongue 'l is disposed at right angles to the leg l and is provided with an elongate slot I'l into which the tip of the flint holder ti projects, thereby forming a guide for the latter,

Opposed ends of the box I6 are provided with aligned holes to admit a spindle I8 having a threaded nut I9 and forming the support for an abrasive element 20. The element 20 is preferably cylindrical, the periphery of which is formed as a file to afford the necessary abrasion to the flint lil as the latter is moved across the element 2li which, being cylindrical, may be readily turned on the spindle I8 to move an unused portion of its periphery ill. In use, the member 4 is gripped to move the legs 5 and 6 toward each other, during which the int I0 is slid along the abrasive element 2t, being guided by the slot Il, the abrasive action of the element 2i) on the flint l0 thereby generating the required ignition spark.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my novel construction presents a compact practical arrangement, particularly the disposition of the flint holder between the legs 5 and S where the latter may be constructed of a length ample to contain a flint of greater length than was heretofore practical. It is also to be observed that the formation of the holding means for the abrasive element contiguous from one of the legs of the device provides a convenient means by which the active surface of the abrasive element may be readily removed as well as a substantial guide for the path of the flint to assure continued satisfactory service.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A lighter comprising a U-shaped resilient metallic member the legs of which are relatively movable toward and away from each other, a flint holder carried by one of said legs and disposed lengthwise of said member between the legs thereof and flint-striking means carried by the other leg, the latter being formed at its end to provide a substantially rectangularframe within which said flint-striking means is mounted and including a side transverse to said legs provided with an elongate slot in which a iiint held by said holder may be guidedly moved in active cooperation with the flint-striking means.

2. A lighter comprising a substantially U- shaped resilient metallic member the legs of which are relatively movable toward and away from each other, one of said legs having its end bent at right angles to form a support for flint holding means, said iiint holding means being disposed lengthwise of said member, flint striking means carried by the other leg, said other leg being formed at its end to provide an integral rectangular frame within which said hint striking means is mounted and including an arm contiguous on and transverse to said leg, said arm being provided with an elongate slot in which a flint held by said holder may be guidedly moved in active cooperation with the flint striking means.

CHARLES F. LARSEN. 

